LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

hibīscum

hibīscum n (genitive hibīscī)
Classical[hɪˈbiːs.kũː]Ecclesiastical[iˈbis.kum]

Meaning

  1. marsh mallow

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativehibīscumhibīsca
ebisca, ibisca
genitivehibīscī
ebiscī, ibiscī		hibīscōrum
ebiscōrum, ibiscōrum
dativehibīscō
ebiscō, ibiscō		hibīscīs
ebiscīs, ibiscīs
accusativehibīscumhibīsca
ebisca, ibisca
ablativehibīscō
ebiscō, ibiscō		hibīscīs
ebiscīs, ibiscīs
vocativehibīscumhibīsca
ebisca, ibisca

hĭbiscum (also ĕbiscum, Scrib. 80; 82; and hĭbiscus, i, f., Serv. Verg. E. 2, 30), i, n., = ὶβίσκος,
I. the marsh-mallow, Althaea officinalis, Linn.; Plin. 20, 4, 14, § 29; 19, 5, 27, § 89; Verg. E. 10, 71: haedorumque gregem viridi compellere hibisco, i. e. with a marsh-mallow twig, id. ib. 2, 30.

Origins

From Ancient Greek ἰβίσκος (ibískos, “marsh mallow”), probably from Gaulish or another Celtic language; however, no Celtic cognates are attested, so the Gaulish word may simply be a medium for a regional, Pre-Celtic or Pre-Italic substrate plant name.

Descendants
  • Proto-West Germanic*ībisku

In English words that came into English from hibīscum

  • hibiscushibiscus

Quick answers

What does hibīscum mean in Latin?
hibīscum, a noun, means “marsh mallow”.
What is the genitive of hibīscum?
The genitive singular is hibīscī. hibīscum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce hibīscum?
In classical Latin, [hɪˈbiːs.kũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [iˈbis.kum].